PHOENIX -- Yeah, you read right. Phoenix. That's where I am at the moment, preparing to cover the World Baseball Classic and Team Stanton, I mean, Team USA. And Manny is in Puerto Rico covering the WBC bracket there with all your former favorite Marlins: Miguel Cabrera, Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, etc. etc. etc.

In our absence, Steph Rogers is on the scene for us in Jupiter handling the Marlins. Before we get to some of her items of note, check out this Politifact item on Jeffrey Loria's recent comments about who bears the tax burden on the new ballpark. (Spoiler alert: the conclusion is that Loria's comments were "half true.") Anyway, it breaks it all down for you.

Now, back to the Marlins and Rogers' reporting:

THIS AND THAT

• There’s nothing wrong with making your first hit of the spring a memorable one. Bryan Peterson lifted the Marlins to a walk-off victory over the Venezuelan team on Tuesday with his two-run triple in the ninth.

“It was just cool. I envy all those dudes who can go out and play for their country,” he said. “That’s a really good team, all of the hitters, the pitchers; it’s obviously good competition for us.”

• Jose Fernandez has a contagious confidence about him. In Tuesday night’s showcase against Team Venezuela, it was an asset against a lineup that closely resembles a stacked fantasy team.

“It was big. I was kind of nervous out there,” the 20-year-old prospect said.

Venezuela’s talent-rich roster stopped in Jupiter before heading to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to begin Pool C play in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Fernandez faced one of his closest friends in the Miami clubhouse, Henderson Alvarez, in the Marlins’ 6-5 victory over Venezuela on Tuesday night.

“It was fun because he threw the third inning, I threw the fourth. In the fifth inning we ran together back [to the clubhouse],” Fernandez said.

• Alfredo Silverio has been shut down. During a long tossing session, the outfield prospect felt discomfort in his elbow. Silverio had Tommy John surgery in 2012, further complications from a January 2012 car accident. There is no timeline for his return.

• Placido Polanco was a late scratch from the starting line up Wednesday. He was expected to return to play, but experienced discomfort in his oblique.

“He hit, he made throws, it’s smart not to push it,” Redmond said.

• Jake Marisnick was hit square in the left hand by a Trevor Rosenthal pitch in the fifth inning. Marisnick received attention from Redmond and the trainer on the field, but stayed on the basepaths. He was replaced by Gorkys Hernandez in the outfield.

He told reporters that his x-rays came back negative, and he will take it day-by-day. Redmond won’t send him on the bus to Port St. Lucie on Thursday.

• The battle for center field continues, and Redmond expects Chris Coghlan to play center field in Thursday’s game.